By Flora Davies and Lydia Minko, Year 10 Journalist Leaders

On the 20th January,  influential and famous people from US public life ranging from The Obamas to Alicia Keys gathered to watch the inauguration of the new US president, Joe Biden.

This was an iconic moment in US political history, the president with the most votes ever leading one of the few acknowledged moments of necessary unity between the Republican and Democrat parties, all symbolised by some fashionable purple clothing.

This inauguration sparked emotion everywhere, many admitting to shedding a few tears at the idea of hope returning not only to the US but across the world.

However, it was not just the inauguration or the lack of Trump’s presence that made this event so emotional and hopeful, it was Amanda Gorman’s powerful poem.

Amanda Gorman, the poet laureate performed a poem that triggered self reflection and the incessant message that ‘we will rise’ but ‘if only we dare’ to.

This poem was shared all over the globe across social and mainstream media, Instagram, YouTube and the BBC. Amanda Gorman has become an overnight celebrity. She gained 2 million Instagram followers in only two days following the inauguration. 

It feels as if Gorman was the true star of the inauguration and that the tables have turned on who has the power and influence. Although Biden may be the leader of a global superpower, it is this young woman and her words that people are quoting and sharing.

Due to her newly acquired status, Gorman is already viewed as a representative of the youth, soon she may rank alongside Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg and be speaking at the UN and to world leaders. 

Although these people have made an incredible impact, you don’t have to be on a global stage to make a difference.

We can see this all over the world, for example in the school strikes or in the youth voter turnout. There are people slightly closer to home who have made a huge impact e.g. Amika George, who grew up in North London and is a campaigner for eradicating period poverty and started the hashtag #FreePeriods. Another example is Aliyah York who founded the Pupil Power which is led by students and challenges the education system in the UK.

Finally, Mya-Rose Craig who is an ornithologist (19) and an activist for the protection of birds, evening earning the nickname ‘Bird Girl’.

You or I could be only one step away from making a difference.